As the Gaza Strip prepares for prolonged weeks of destruction and violent Israeli bombardment, crises are escalating in the south, particularly in the city of Rafah, which is adjacent to the Egyptian border. This area has become a symbol of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. The influx of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing Israeli airstrikes to Rafah has tripled its population, turning this small city into a hotspot of turmoil. Hundreds of families displaced from the north are crammed into schools and shelters. Those without shelter or tents are forced to sleep in the streets and parks, especially as the prices of small apartment rentals have skyrocketed from $100 before the war to nearly $5,000, according to the Wall Street Journal.
**Spread of Diseases**
Amidst the scarcity of medical and food aid, and the shortage of drinking and bathing water, many relief organizations are warning about the outbreak of diseases. Some organizations have already reported the spread of hepatitis, rabies, and herpes due to overcrowding and insufficient water, alongside the absence of sewage treatment plants. Cases of diarrhea have also been widespread among the displaced. Thomas White, the director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in Gaza, stated on his “X” platform account that "the recent evacuation orders may lead to an additional half a million people being displaced to Rafah." He also confirmed that "the water and sewage infrastructure will not even begin to meet the needs of the internally displaced population, which could reach one million people."
Adding to this crisis is the issue of food scarcity, which has worsened since the collapse of a one-week truce on December 1 due to a decrease in the number of aid trucks entering from Egypt and violent fighting obstructing their distribution even in southern Gaza.
**Will It Become a Target?**
However, the worst may erupt if Israeli forces significantly intensify their bombardment of this city, which has already endured airstrikes and attacks in recent months, or if ground forces advance towards it. The Israeli army expects the fight in the southern sector to be more complex and difficult than in the north. Additionally, Israeli forces have not clarified whether Rafah could also become a target for their military operations, remaining cautious about their future tactical steps.
What remains certain is that the war will continue for weeks at least, according to Israeli leaders, amid the worsening crisis of Palestinian displacement and the increasing death toll, including children.
